Opening a conversation about statelessness, governance, and the problem of citizenship - in the Commonwealth and beyond

The lead up to the Commonwealth Games is an ideal moment to reflect upon citizenship in Commonwealth countries and beyond. In this series of collaborative workshops, scholars in Commonwealth and other countries around the globe will engage with a diverse audience to discuss ‘the problem of citizenship’.

We will look at how citizenship policies can effectively ‘displace people in place’. Without moving, individuals are turned into outsiders within their home societies, often becoming subject to migration controls. Histories of colonialism and decolonisation contribute to this reality. This presents a challenge to the realisation of the core Commonwealth principles of consensus and common action, mutual respect, inclusiveness, transparency, legitimacy, and responsiveness. This is a challenge that we seek to address. We hope that you’ll join us.

This event coincides with the publication of a new book from Manchester University Press: Statelessness, Governance, and the Problem of Citizenship. The speakers and facilitators are drawn from among the contributors to the book project.

Event cost

For free, but RSVP is needed.. If you sign in to the community space, you can access some free additional resources, as well as a discount code for the book.

Event programme

The event will be composed of 4 workshops, evenly spaced through the 24hour period, as well as additional locally organised activities. The locally organised activities are still being confirmed and attendees will be able to find more information in the Community Space.

Workshop 1: What does it mean for citizenship to be weaponised?

[11:00 day1 EST; 16:00 day1 GMT; 03:00 day2 AEDT]

• Jamie Chai Yun Liew, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa, Canada
• Lindsey Kingston, Associate Professor in International Human Rights, Webster University, United States
• Haqqi Bahram, Doctoral Candidate, Institute for Research on Migration, Ethnicity and Society, Linköping University, Sweden
• Bart Klem, Senior lecturer in Peace and Development, Gothenburg University, Sweden
• (facilitator: Tendayi Bloom, Lecturer in Political Theory, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom)
  
  

Workshop 2: What does it mean for citizenship to be fetishised?

[17:00 day1 EST; 20:00 day1 GMT; 07:00 day2 AEDT]

• Jan Lukas Buterman, Transgender Activist and Doctoral Candidate, University of Alberta, Canada
• Natalie Brinham, Doctoral Student, Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom
• Nataliia Kasianenko, Assistant Professor in Political Science, California State University Fresno, United States
• Yoana Kuzmova, Lawyer specialising in Immigration, Citizenship, and Refugee Law, Boston, United States
• (facilitator: Tendayi Bloom, Lecturer in Political Theory, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom)
  
  

Workshop 3: What does it mean to live without citizenship?

[23:00 day1 EST; 04:00 day2 GMT; 15:00 day2 AEDT; the workshop will last 1-1.5hrs]

• Janepicha Cheva-Isarakul, Lecturer in Social and Cultural Studies, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
• Maarja Vollmer, Senior Analyst specialising in Migration and Fundamental Rights, Civitta Estonia
• Karina Gareginovna Ambartsoumian-Clough, Founding Member of United Stateless, United States
• Pefi Kingi, Pacific Indigenous language activist
• (facilitator: Tendayi Bloom, Lecturer in Political Theory, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom)
  
  

Workshop 4: How should the problem of citizenship be addressed?

[06:00 day2 EST; 11:00 day2 GMT; 22:00 day2 AEDT]

• Pragna Paramita Mondal, Doctoral Candidate, University of Calcutta, India
• Edwin Abuya, Associate Professor, University of Nairobi School of Law, Kenya
• Ekaterina E, Founding Member of United Stateless, United States
• Melissa Schnyder, Professor of International Relations and Global Security, American Public University, United States
• (facilitator: Tendayi Bloom, Lecturer in Political Theory, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom)